Chapter 4

The next month passed pretty much the same way. They greeted each other every day at school. They talked in the hallway. In public, they never touched or stood close to each other.

But they always seemed to share a secret smile or two. They went out on the weekends. Always to a place that was in the next county or otherwise far away from inquisitive glances.

In private, they held hands. They talked and got to know one another better. They had been colleagues for so long, Jacob knew a lot about her family and what she was like, but knew very little about her personally.

He, on the other hand, was an open book. His divorce was very public. His ex-mother-in-law had a big mouth and seemed to know just about everyone. There was no infidelity, but she always talked bad about him. Most everyone in the school ignored her and the shit she tried to stir up, but that didn't stop people from talking. Gossip breeds more gossip.

Their dates always ended on her front porch. She never invited him in. He never asked.

One day in first period, his students thought they were going to ambush the teacher.

"Hey, Mr. E.," Brad asked during some groupwork time. "I heard you and Miss Armstrong went out last weekend."